Crisp really is on the go now
PHILADELPHIA - You're almost disappointed on those nights when Jacoby Ellsbury isn't in the lineup raising havoc on the basepaths, stealing second on pitchouts, stealing third (7 for 8) as easily as if he's pouring a cup of coffee.
Ellsbury didn't start last night's 3-0 Red Sox win over the Phillies but got in as a defensive replacement for Manny Ramírez and recorded his 34th stolen base before being thrown out trying to steal third.
Sometimes you forget there's another pretty fast guy on this team. He's the guy the Sox were supposed to trade to make room for Ellsbury. The guy, you'll remember, who wasn't going to play much and wouldn't accept his role and would be disgruntled. That guy - Coco Crisp - is sometimes overlooked. On a night when the Sox tied a club record with six stolen bases, the featured theft artist was Crisp with two.
Every now and then, Crisp has one of these nights when he flashes a little power and a little speed. He belted a two-run homer on Jamie Moyer's first pitch to him in the second inning. He stole second and third in the sixth and scored on Julio Lugo's double.
Crisp has 12 steals. No, it's not in the Ellsbury range, but it's still nothing to sneeze at.
Asked whether it's more of a rush to steal third than second, Crisp said, "I think just stealing a base and beating the throw is exciting for me. You have to do a few things right to steal that base cleanly. It all starts with reading the pitcher and getting a good jump, and when you do that and you steal it cleanly, that feels good."
Teams didn't go after Crisp hard in spring training because he was hurt and they didn't want to assume his $5 million salary. So they settled for inferior players rather than a guy who can play an elite center field and run as fast as anyone in the American League.
The Sox were asking for an expensive package for Crisp. The Cubs considered it, but not at the price. So the Sox did the smart thing and kept him. Crisp's presence and the outfield rotation with Ramírez, Ellsbury, and J.D. Drew have kept bodies fresh, and all have had enough playing time not to suffer from rust.
Is Crisp happy he stayed?
"To be honest with you, it is what it is," he said. "I honestly don't think about it. The way things have worked out, I've gotten some playing time, and when I'm in there, I try to make something happen. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. But I'm having fun when I'm out there, and that's the important thing."
The big knock on Crisp is that he lacks consistency. His game still hasn't smoothed out to where he's a factor every day he's in the lineup. There are more good days and than bad, far more impressive moments than duds, but nonetheless, he's part of a Red Sox team that has a dimension unparalleled in its recent history. These guys can run, and you'd better pay attention to them if you're an opposing team or they'll steal a game from you.
Heck, even Sean Casey stole a base last night.
"Yeah. I was shocked about that one," said Crisp. "Very shocked."
Maybe Crisp would never acknowledge this, but he has to be motivated by having Ellsbury around. He has to see the excitement the kid creates and must be wondering why he can't do that. Hard to tell which player is faster. When Crisp gets up a head of steam going from first to third, it's impressive. In a race, who would win? Most people would say Ellsbury, but don't be so sure.
Manager Terry Francona thought the Sox ran once too often last night, likely referring to Ellsbury trying to steal third. When asked whether he thinks Ellsbury might be pushing Crisp to steal more, Francona said, "No, no. We don't run to run but we run to help us win."
Crisp now has five homers, three in his last three games. He admitted last night that if the games had been played at Fenway, he probably wouldn't have had any in that stretch, but said, "We're playing in these ballparks so I've tried to take advantage of where we are."
He homered batting righthanded against the veteran Moyer on what looked to be a slider outside that hung a little too long. Crisp turned on it and drove it to left in this launching pad known as Citizens Bank Park.
Crisp said he likes stealing bases but "I'd rather make a diving catch in the outfield. That's where I think my speed is the most important. We have guys who can run here and we can create some excitement that way, but I think speed on defense is just as important, if not more important. You can save runs that way."
Scouts and baseball people who watch the Red Sox a lot feel their depth, especially having speed weapons like Ellsbury and Crisp, is what separates them from other teams.
They have become the Go-Go Sox, something none of us who grew up in this region ever thought would happen. In 1973, Tommy Harper was one of the most exciting players to hit Boston in years. When Otis Nixon came along, wow, was he fast. Now you have Ellsbury, and when Ellsbury isn't starting, Crisp steals two bases.
The most impressive thing about the steals is that the other team is rendered almost helpless. Some opponents advocate letting the runner go and concentrating on the hitter, but teams are starting to figure out you can't do that.
With Ellsbury not starting, Crisp became the designated havoc maker last night, doing it with power and speed. A pretty tough combination to stop.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.
